Career Services Guide
Everything you need to know about connecting to the world’s largest professional network.
Career & Internship Services Slane Student Center, Room 325 336.841.9025 1
CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
What is LinkedIn and why do I need a profile? “It is no longer enough to simply have a solid resume ...students now need a professional online presence.” (Holly Paul, US Recruiting Coordinator, PwC)
As the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn can help you to: Clearly define your skills and experience Build your professional “brand” and showcase your experience Turn relationships into opportunities by finding out how you are personally connected to any employer Help you prepare for interviews when you land them Check out the career paths that people with your interests have pursued
Prospective employers WILL check you out online: 70% of employers have rejected a candidate because of information they found about them online 85% of employers say that a positive online “reputation” influences their hiring decision FACT: 70-85% of jobs today are found through networking!
The people you know can help you with: Introductions Increased access to opportunities Obtaining informational interviews Advice, support, mentoring
“Its not about WHAT you know but WHO you know...”
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CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
Getting Started Go to www.linkedin.com and follow the instructions for setting up an account Select a professional, appropriate picture Only you Neutral background Professional attire Create the right “headline” that describes YOU! Write a “keyword-rich summary” that sells your skills and experience, being concise, specific, and typo-free Complete the education section List your professional experience, including all internships and paid employment, in reverse chronological order (most recent first) Create bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and duties for each of these positions, in a similar format to your resume Obtain recommendations from your professors, employers, advisors, and internship supervisors Ask people who have served as references for you in the past and are active on LinkedIn If possible, obtain one strong recommendation for each place of employment, internship, or school LinkedIn will let you know how to improve your profile…
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CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
Building Your Network Establish your Connections: People you already know family members friends friends’ parents neighbors HPU Alumni Add new connections using “Contacts” tab
Join Groups Establish HPU groups: Alumni (seniors only) Career and Internship Group Parent and Alumni Mentor Network
TIP: Look at groups that other LinkedIn members with similar interests have joined.
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CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
7 Tips for Writing a Great LinkedIn Invitation 1. Be honest
Explain why you want to connect with the person; honesty is the bestpolicy, especially if you are looking to do some serious networking.
2. Tell Them How You Know Them
People get lots of requests to connect – taking the extra step to briefly mention why you want to connect will usually get your invitation accepted.
3. Find Something in Common
How did you find this person? Do you have a mutual career field or interest? Do you have connections in common? Are you connected through LinkedIn Groups? Find the common thread and use it to your advantage when sending your connection request.
4. Make It Personal
Always personalize your invitation to connect in some way; mention a shared group membership, note a common contact, or point out similar backgrounds, education or experience.
5. Be Enthusiastic
If you’re approaching the CEO/founder of a startup on LinkedIn, as part of a job search, you want to start and end by showing your enthusiasm. Your expertise, background, and skill set should take a backseat to your enthusiasm and passion for their business.
6. Reference Their Profile
Take a moment to look at this potential connections profile and reference something in it. This will show that you took the time to know who you’re attempting to connect with before sending the invitation.
7. Thank Them
It’s important to thank the person in advance before agreeing to connect. Also, you want to offer help in any way possible and encourage them to call on you. That way, your potential contact feels like they can benefit from the connection. 5
CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
Turning your LinkedIn Connections into Opportunities “In the same way that you find out what people are doing socially on Facebook, you can find out what people are doing professionally on LinkedIn!” Reach out to the connections you have made to ask for introductions to their connections Use the “Advanced Search” tab and enter High Point University in the “School” section to search for HPU alumni Always connect with people on LinkedIn once you have met them in person Regularly check the “Jobs” tab for opportunities you might be interested in, searching by zip code, company name, type of position, or keyword LinkedIn will also tell you which of your connections is already connected tothe company that is hiring! When you find a job posting somewhere other than through LinkedIn, use your LinkedIn account to search for people you may know or potential connections you may have at that company Remember to thank the person who connects you with someone at a particular company, using email, a personal LinkedIn message or a written note.
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CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
Researching and Preparing for Interviews Demonstrating knowledge about a company is one of the most important factors in landing a job offer. What you need to know before your interview: General company information Mission statement Recent news/company updates Research each person with whom you will be meeting: Educational background Career path Recent tweets, news articles, etc. Shared connections on LinkedIn Industry/Competitive knowledge “Insider secrets” Company culture Traits most valued in employees Leaders you must know about Publications and blogs that are “must reads” for this company TIP: Utilize the “Company Buzz” application under the “More” tab to keep current on company news, especially in the days immediately preceding your interview!
Additional Tips Always use appropriate, professional business etiquette when using LinkedIn to network: Send personal messages when asking to make a connection instead of using the generic message provided Always make a connection request as soon as possible after meeting 7
CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
someone new in person, through email correspondence, or on the phone Google yourself on a regular basis to see if your LinkedIn profile is the first search result! Use LinkedIn to look at the educational backgrounds and career paths of professionals who work in your areas of interest  Within the groups that you join, take advantage of discussion boards, event announcements, and news articles to which you will now have access Using the “Groups” tab, use the drop-down feature to view suggested groups for you to consider joining
Frequently Asked Questions Q: How does my LinkedIn profile differ from my resume? A: Your experience and credentials can be written as you would present them on a resume or cover letter, but you can be a little less formal. LinkedIn offers the added bonus of allowing you to create your own customized “Headline,” which should be unique to you! Use this feature to brand yourself, highlight your skills, and differentiate yourself from other students. Always be truthful and don’t stretch the facts! Q: How do I approach people for recommendations? A: Asking someone to “recommend” you on LinkedIn is similar to asking someone to serve as a reference or to write you a letter of recommendation. Do not be shy about asking someone who has complimented you on your work or has agreed to be a reference. Q: How do I find a connection’s profile? A: There are two ways to access a connection’s profile. Using the “Contacts” tab, you can select “Your Connections” and look for your 8
CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN
connection. Alternatively, you can use the “Search” box on the right hand side of your LinkedIn toolbar and enter a person’s name (be sure that you have selected “People” just left of the search box). Q: How do I edit/update my profile as I add new experiences? A: You can add, change, or remove any information on your profile using the “Edit Profile” feature. To get there, click on the “Profile” tab at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “Edit Profile.” You will find a prompt (in blue ink) in each of your sections that you can click on to make changes. For additional information, please refer to: www.learn.linkedin.com/student
Career & Internship Services Slane Student Center, Room 325 336.841.9025 9